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You might think making cookies like that should be reserved for professional pastry chefs. While the process takes a bit of time and patience, you can learn how to make macarons at home. Follow our tutorial for making French macarons step-by-step to nail down the delicate cookie-making basics. Soon you’ll be on your way to creating all sorts of French macaron flavors for your friends and family. How to Make Macarons A tiny French cookie that requires several steps might seem intimidating, but trust us, you’ll quickly get the hang of making macarons....

All parts of lantana plants are toxic to children, pets, and livestock. They should not be planted where children and pets come into contact with them. Where to Plant Lantana In warm southern climates of USDA zones 8 to 11, lantana is perennial and can grow 10 feet tall. However, in other climates, it’s treated as an annual and reaches almost 3 feet tall in one growing season. How and When to Plant Lantana Wait a couple of weeks after the danger of frost has passed to plant lantanas....

These spring-blooming bulbs can be planted anytime in autumn until the ground freezes. They need several weeks of cold temperatures to grow correctly, so if you live where it stays warm year-round, buy pre-chilled bulbs and don’t expect them to return after they bloom. These simple guidelines for how to plant spring bulbs will help you create a beautiful garden to enjoy next year. How to Plant Single Bulbs A good rule of thumb is to plant bulbs three times as deep as the bulb is tall....

Before you begin removing water stains from wood surfaces, examine the color of the water ring. White water stains appear when moisture is trapped in the wood’s finish. Our cleaning methods work best for these types of stains. If the water rings are dark, the liquid has likely reached the wood itself, and you may need to refinish the surface entirely. It’s also important to note that some tough water stains may be best treated with a combination of cleaning techniques; experiment with each method as needed....

How to Find the Best Orchid Potting Mix In the wild, rather than sinking their roots into the soil, most orchids normally grow in trees, perched high above the rainforest floor. You can replicate that environment with a special orchid bark mix that’s available at garden centers. It provides the quick drainage and plentiful pockets for air that orchid roots require. Mostly, though, it helps anchor plants in pots so they can grow upward....

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The trio of hues includes oatmeal-colored Transcend, a warm clay color called Big Cypress, and a watery turquoise called Misty Aqua. Drawing on nature, the palette was designed to encourage mindfulness and relaxation during a tumultuous time. “With the world sheltering in place for the better half of the year, we have begun to crave human connection and embrace simple activities, including walking, hiking, baking, and gardening,” said Dee Schlotter, PPG’s senior color marketing manager, in a press release....

Most homes are painted in three different color groups, with the siding one color, the trim a second color, and doors and shutters a third color. There are exceptions, of course, especially for historic homes such as Victorians, which have their own color conventions. Bright colors are often used for trim, doors, and shutters, so repainting your front door red sounds like a good idea. However, painting the garage door red will draw attention to it at the expense of other, probably more interesting, aspects of your home....

Whether you’re setting up camp, finalizing your backyard patio, or looking for ways to bring the outside into your own home, there are tons of different hammock options to fit your exact needs. Hammocks come in different sizes, materials, and weight capacities to fit different purposes. The best hammock for you depends on where you will place it. Outdoor hammocks must be able to stand up to the elements, says Joe Demin, CEO of Yellow Leaf Hammocks....

“The most important thing to look for in a Christmas tree stand is stability,” said Tara Spaulding, interior design coordinator for Patio Productions. “A stable base will ensure that the tree stays upright, and it will also prevent tipping over or falling over.” With that in mind, to find the best Christmas tree stands, we researched a variety of picks and considered factors like dimensions, material, tree type, maximum tree height, water capacity, and diameter....

“If done correctly, [wicker] can be mixed with a variety of styles and comes in various options—chairs, coffee tables, and even some cool lighting elements,” says Mary Patton, interior designer at Mary Patton Design. To help narrow down the best wicker patio furniture, we researched a variety of picks, keeping in mind material, weight capacity, and the number of pieces included. We also consulted Mary Patton, interior designer at Mary Patton Design, Shoshanna Shapiro, principal interior designer at Sho & Co, and Jade Joyner, principal designer of Metal + Petal....

Whether you’re in the market for a new highly rated robot vacuum or you want to gift your loved ones with the latest smart home devices, now is a great time to save up to 80% on just about everything on your shopping list. However, it can be overwhelming to sift through all the products to find the biggest sales. We’ve rounded up the best Prime Early Access deals you won’t want to miss from top brands like iRobot, KitchenAid, Safavieh, and more....

We also talked to Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute and Equip Exposition, and Adam Woodhams, garden, lawn, and landscape professional and host of Gardner’s Clippings on YouTube, to find out what are the most important things to consider with cordless leaf blowers. “A major factor to consider when purchasing a leaf blower is its mobility,” Kiser says. “Consider how long you may need to operate it when selecting equipment....

The best leaf vacuums typically work as both a leaf blower and a vacuum, so you can use them to push leaves around your yard or suck them away entirely. “When considering a leaf vacuum, look for one with dual purpose blower and vacuum capability so the leaves can be blown into a large pile before being vacuumed and mulched,” says Dan Vessell, product manager at Husqvarna. He also recommends opting for a large vacuum bag size to spend less time unloading leaves....

“Eschewing the obviously flashy decor, trend-chasing, and interiors showmanship of the nouveau riche crowd, this style grounds itself in classically chic pieces with staying power,” says Heather Goerzen, Havenly design editor. “It’s Ralph Lauren Home meets Christie’s with a side of polo matches and Dom Perignon.” But with old money decor, it all comes down to the quiet luxury design tenets which, according to Goerzen, are craftsmanship, quality, and originality....

Reviewers swear by the “Cadillac of Christmas storage” for its “heavy duty” design and “spacious” storage capabilities. One five-star reviewer wrote, “I no longer need to unwrap and wrap each ornament in paper towels. Every item has its own spot in the organizer, and it’s easy to find what you’re looking for.” Another shopper highlighted the versatility of the top-selling holiday ornament storage box, praising the “modular ability of different ways to set up the ornament trays” as well as the “flexibility of the extra compartments,” which were crucial to their storage needs....

After: Cape Escape This home went from dark and dated to an upgraded beauty to behold. A new roof, fresh coat of paint, and refinished front door updated the appearance. The rear addition remains intentionally unnoticeable from the street side to match the scale of other homes in the neighborhood. New landscaping creates curb appeal and sets the scene for what’s inside. Walking on Sunshine What was once a screen porch is now a year-round living space....

How to Make TikTok Ramen Noodles You won’t be using the seasoning packet, so grab whatever packet of instant ramen you have on hand to make the trendy TikTok ramen recipe. Feel free to adjust the ingredients to your liking by adding more heat, garlic, etc. There are also videos making the trendy recipe with sesame oil if you need a dairy-free swap for the butter. Leave off the egg if you’re allergic or plant-based (just make sure the ramen noodles you’re using are egg-free, too)....

How to Make an Owl Pumpkin Supplies Needed White pumpkinPencil for tracing shapes before cuttingCarving knifeHot-glue gun and hot glueSunflower seeds (in shells)Two crafts sticksCandle or battery-operated light Step-by-Step Directions Follow these easy instructions to make your own easy owl pumpkin carving. You should be able to complete one pumpkin in under an hour. Step 1: Carve Pumpkin Cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin and remove all the pulp and seeds....

“They are different from multi-family units in that they often don’t have units below or above them,” says Courtney Klosterman, home insights expert at Hippo, a home insurance company. Like all home types, attached family homes have their pros and cons. Read on for expert tips on what to look for if you’re in the market for an attached family home or townhouse. What Is an Attached Family Home? Attached family homes cover a few types of housing you’ve likely heard of....